The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-03-09
ADVICE TO GIRLS.
The Necessity and Benefit of
Abundant Exercise.
How to Avoid at Thirty the Sofa, Shawl,
Neuralgia and Nerves-What May
Be Accomplished by Proper
Training.

"The natural destination Of women
over thirty says Mr.. William Blake,
in an article relating to physical cult
ure, sis the sofa, shawl, and neil
ralgia" Surely a most discouraging
prospect to the gentle sex. And yet,
it is largely their own fault, for our
girls neglect too frequently the exer-
else which would Danish the latent
weakness that hastens their arrival at
the destination so graphically described
by Mr.. Blake. In our own city we
find clear demonstration of the theory
of physical degeneration; men who
should be our ideals of strength and
beauty are small and of almost etfem-
mate physique. Girls who should be
able to walk several miles without
fatigue are completely overcome and
good for nothing the remainder of the
day if they walk many squares. And so
it is-the whole race is becoming puny
and feeble from lack of systematic ex-
ercise, upon which depends so much of
their happiness, particularly of the
girls, since they see across the "kubl-
con" the sofa and shawl, neuralgia
and nerves, headaches and temper.
Miss Bertha Won Hillern is a notable
example of what it is possible for a
woman to accomplish by training.
Devoted and successful artist as she is,
her physical culture is not deemed
second to her artistic. and a portion Of
each day lis given up to this need of her
nature. And while it is need of all
natures, it becomes pre-eminently so to
those who give it its rightful consider
alton. Not only does the material
comfort depend upon regular, moder-
ate exercise, but the mental growth
and development as well. 1t stands to
reason that vigorous health influences
the mental conditions, and that the man
or woman who is constitutionally the
most robust will be capable Of a great
er amount of intellectual labor Look
at Gladstone as an illustration Of the
power of the body upon the mind. AL
though an old man, he still walks six
miles every morning before breakfast
ING. The result is u clear, active brain
and well-preserved structure, such as
man half a century younger might
well envy him. He attributes his
activity to the physical culture, which
has never been neglected during the
whole of his remarkable career. And
there is no doubt that if the men and
women of the present would emulate his
example there would be fewer pigmies
in the world. Julian Hawthorne, who
is an athlete mentally and physically,
shows his opinion of the necessity Of
regular exercise for women in the
training Of his own little daughter, who,
although but eleven years of age, can
walk a mile in seven minutes easily,
Imagine what glorious specimen OF
womanhood she will be! No shawls OF
nerves for her, thanks to her father
superior intelligence.
Strength should be woman's pride
no less than q mans. Exercise alone
viii develop it, and at the same time
impart that symmetrical beauty o.
form which characterized the "god
like Greeks" 1t has been too long neg
lected in our schools, as the pale face
of the children will testify. Few chill
dren really take any beneficial exercis
while in school. The hour, or half
hour, for recreation in the middle o
the day is passed in studying the les
sons for the afternoon session or il
walking up and down the warm room
and halls. This is partly due to tn
fact that few of the schools have yard
sufficiently large to accommodate then
in any pleasant pastime. This IS t
be regretted, as it is at this periot
of PERSONS life that physical training
should be doing its work. The intro
duction of calisthenic exercises in tn,
schools several years ago was the frs
step in the right direction, and gav'
the children taste for physical cult
ure. which was before unknown t.
them. Unfortunately, they must g
through the various movements ant
drills in the school-room, and so Cal
not inhale the pure oxygen, which il
the most essential part of the benefit
The fashionable craze for lawn-tenni
goes to prove that our girls are becom
ing aware of their deficiency in thu
matter of out-of-door sports, and thu
enthusiasm which has been developed
in them for this graceful and healthfu
game shows that they are not behint
this age of progression. And we cal
but feel proud to know that we have
lately started in Baltimore physica
culture class for girls, in connection
with the Hopkins University, or rathel